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One-eyed hamster found at local brewery

Judy Ricker, a bartender at Southern Appalachian Brewery, found this one-eyed hamster early Friday morning at the brewery. She said she hopes the community can help identify this hamster and reunite the pet with its family.

CAITLIN BYRD/TIMES-NEWS

By MOLLY MCGOWANTimes-News Staff Writer

Published: Friday, June 13, 2014 at 4:59 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, June 13, 2014 at 4:59 p.m.

Project WE CARE's “Got Beer” fundraiser at Southern Appalachian Brewery drew more than 100 people Thursday night — and a one-eyed golden hamster looking for a home.

The brewery staff is accustomed to seeing stray cats, possums and groundhogs near the property at 822 Locust St., but since golden hamsters aren't native to the Blue Ridge Mountains, the tiny furry animal was a surprise.

As she was cleaning up near the bar around 1 a.m. Friday, bartender Judy Ricker noticed something moving under the stacked wine barrels.

“I caught something out of the corner of my eye,” she rememberes.

She wandered over to the scene where she found the animal, and gestured to the barrels.

“He came over to me and let me pick him up,” Ricker said. “He's definitely been handled.”

She imagines the hamster — which has a wonky, offset tail and a damaged right eye — came in with one of the children who visited the family-friendly brewery Thursday night.

They hope the hamster — which Ricker's decided to call “Blondie” after the brewery's Belgian-style blonde ale — will be reunited with its owner, or find a new home.

In the meantime, “Blondie” is staying with Ricker. She said she called Caroline Gunther, owner of Wag! A Unique Pet Boutique, figuring she would know where to find a hamster cage on the fly. Gunther hooked “Blondie” up with a colorful number donated by the owners of Camp Ton-A-Wandah.

Just as the community helped in housing Blondie, Ricker said she hopes Hendersonville comes together to help find him — or her, Ricker can't tell — a forever home.

<p>Project WE CARE's “Got Beer” fundraiser at Southern Appalachian Brewery drew more than 100 people Thursday night — and a one-eyed golden hamster looking for a home.</p><p>The brewery staff is accustomed to seeing stray cats, possums and groundhogs near the property at 822 Locust St., but since golden hamsters aren't native to the Blue Ridge Mountains, the tiny furry animal was a surprise.</p><p>As she was cleaning up near the bar around 1 a.m. Friday, bartender Judy Ricker noticed something moving under the stacked wine barrels.</p><p>“I caught something out of the corner of my eye,” she rememberes. </p><p>She wandered over to the scene where she found the animal, and gestured to the barrels.</p><p>“He came over to me and let me pick him up,” Ricker said. “He's definitely been handled.”</p><p>She imagines the hamster — which has a wonky, offset tail and a damaged right eye — came in with one of the children who visited the family-friendly brewery Thursday night.</p><p>“I can't imagine where it could have traveled from,” Ricker said.</p><p>“It's not like it's a 'wild' hamster,” added brewery co-owner Kelly Cubbin.</p><p>They hope the hamster — which Ricker's decided to call “Blondie” after the brewery's Belgian-style blonde ale — will be reunited with its owner, or find a new home.</p><p>In the meantime, “Blondie” is staying with Ricker. She said she called Caroline Gunther, owner of Wag! A Unique Pet Boutique, figuring she would know where to find a hamster cage on the fly. Gunther hooked “Blondie” up with a colorful number donated by the owners of Camp Ton-A-Wandah.</p><p>Just as the community helped in housing Blondie, Ricker said she hopes Hendersonville comes together to help find him — or her, Ricker can't tell — a forever home.</p><p>“Somebody will want him,” she said. </p><p>Reach McGowan at molly.mcgowan@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7871.</p>